My Grandson and Me

Our Relationship:

We treat each other as most cordial friends. He will like to instantly churn out all happenings during his day in School as I pick him and walk him to the parking lot.



Makes me Special:


Being the first in hierarchy of my next generation, he is the Star of my eyes. I like him to be naughty & graceful.







Enjoy About:
I would like to enjoy and be with him all the times playing numerous games which he exclusively plays with me.






Do Together:
Enjoy more with outdoor /indoor Activities

I wish him to grow a great human being to serve the human race in any field.

About my Childhood.

I am Preetmohan Singh Kapoor and being the father of Gobind’s dad, a really proud one.

With six decades removed, I grew up a toddler to witness a mass immigration in the history of human race from one place to another on grounds of religious demographics when about 25Million people were displaced.

Photo of a Railway Station in Punjab, India. Many people abandoned their fixed assets and crossed newly formed borders.

Life as a Child

Under the circumstances, my Mom started teaching me at home, while my Dad had to look out to earn for bread for the family. I had to wait to be five years of age to get admission into a Government run Primary School in a small and uprooted city of Panipat in the outskirts of Delhi the capital of the Country. But my Mom had already taught me good enough to be in the Second grade, so my Dad had to bribe Rs 1 to the Head Master Mr Sat Pal who allowed me get entry into the school even with a younger age.My First School

Our school was at a stone’s throw from our house. I shall start from the house only after listening the school bell. We had to squatter on a cotton carpet full of filth and sand along with our Slate for writing on with a Chalk, a small 8-page book and a wooden hand board for using the same again and again with black ink and a bamboo pen. (for reusing the wooden board again it had to be washed and given a fresh coat of a fuller’s earth every evening so that the same board would get dry and ready for use next morning).

The small book would contain the Alphabets, numbers, and one story at the last page with a hand drawn picture of a cat acting as Judge holding a two pan balance for equally dividing a piece of loaf between two monkeys. She continued eating the extra on either side till the loaf piece was completely consumed by her. Moral: do not fight and decide it between yourself, otherwise some body greedy like the Cat would grab the share of both.

The teacher had a portable Black Board only for the 3rd grade and above class. There was only one section of 30-40 student in the class. There was only one examination for promoting to the next class at the end of the year culminating in March of each year and the result was announced on First of April. All the kids would line up with a Marigold Flowers garland in their hands and would place the same around the neck of their respective teacher as the result of being successful was announced. Yes, a few were unlucky who could not be promoted.


Games I Played

We had two months of summer holidays, but usually they got prolonged as in our area it rained for Four months in a year and the roofs of the school were not able to handle the heavy and prolonged rains and the rain water continuously leaked through them all the times. All of us were extremely happy to get a school day off on such occasions. That was the funniest thing to happen. This will give us a chance to hang around and play marbles, Gulli Danda ( a local famous game played in south Asia). My dad got a good Job in the city Rationing Department and was paid reasonably well. He got me a rubber Ball which would attract many friends of mine who remained glued to play with me. In fact a small vacant place surrounded by row of houses came to be known as a play ground after my name.

I wish I could have my old time back, that would not happen. But while seeing Gobind passing a similar time in better environments and conditions, I feel so much elated and contented.

Here is how he sings the 'Mool Mantra'

Memo.m4a (1060KB)

© preet mohan singh., all rights reserved.

July 10, 2009

Drop Off and Pick Up From school

Gobind gets badge for 'Walk To School' from an officer of San Ramon Police Department on the Black Top

Gobind school starts at 8.00 AM, while Jania's Pre School Learning Center admits her at 8.15. So it works really well. We fill them up with lunch packs in their backpacks for Gobind & Jania and start the morning journey at 7.45. That is also the start of first fight. She would like to go to her school first, and would strongly argue as to why to go to Gobind School first. Neither me nor the grandma has been able to convince that hers starts late. As I, being on the passenger seat, am spared the onslaught from her.

Any way, Gobind and me get down from the car by 7.55. I carry his bag on my shoulder, walk him to the Row Number 27 marked in white on the Black Top. There are 40 rows meaning the number of sections for grade 1 to grade 5 in the Live Oak Elementary School in San Ramon, Ca. Black Top is a huge tar suface of about 5-6 Acres meant for games like tennis, soft ball, Basketball courts, and lots of swings in one corner. It is a treat to see the hustle and bustle both at the time of drop off and pick up of kids on the Black top. Mostly kids are accompanied by one adult member of the kids family usually by one of the grand parents or non-working mothers.

You will see a diversified section of folks of all color and creed in the True America style here. There are Cacaseans, blacks, Chinese, Vietnames, Phillipinos, South Asians, and Africans mingling with each other due to the necessity of imparting best education in the best environments. Being a practicing sikh, Gobind has four more co -Sikhs to his advantage.

As the bell rings, various teachers of all the classes will come forward and lead their sudents in each row to their respective class rooms. It is interesting to see Gobind holding a big size back pack and walking in a disciplined line, following his teacher Mrs Boreman through hoard of mates. At times he lags in his walk feeling still sleepy.

Mrs.Boreman's Gobind Teacher in the First Grade introduces herself

My name is Jennifer Boreman. I am a newlywed living in San Ramon with my husband of 11 months and our two dogs. I am originally from New York which is where I obtained my Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education and Psychology. I have been living in California for six years and have had the opportunity to obtain my Masters Degree from St. Mary’s College. I have been in the education field for eight years teaching in New York, San Francisco, and Pittsburg, California. I am very excited to be part of the Live Oak family.

I relax at the Soccer Coaching Play Ground by the side of Black Top

Playing Facilities

The neighborhood View from the black Top



© preet mohan singh., all rights reserved.

Jania Birthday 2010

Jania the Tea seller Dec 2009

Gobind’s Poo on a visit to Cruise Trip Dec 2009

Gobind has been with this 'POO' almost since his birth no matter home or away. On his recent Cruise trip, Poo got a job of a Sailer and was accordingly dressed.

 

Raju & His Family visits us in Nov 2009

Gobind gets a Police Badge Oct 2009

Gobind is getting a 'Badge' from San Ramon Police Department's Officer for partcipating in the 'Walk To School'. He will walk, to and back from School, the whole week.

His Grandpa is the byproduct Beneficiary as photographer.

Me and my Toys - Jania 2009

This is me, my home and lots of my Toys - Jania

Gobind playing chess in 2009

Gobind makes a Chess move: A Photo By Shiv

On a Cruise to Alaska Aug 2009

On my 65th birthday we planned first ever cruise travels to Alaska. We took a flight from San Jose to Seattle and reached Cruise embarkation point by a cab.  I got so excited that I got nervous badly and could not remember my personal data and Documents. I felt as the dream to travel on a ship was beyond my imagination and comprehension to undertake.

As usual my better half Harvi immediately took over and got us through the documentation cleared for onward journey. Since it also touched Canadian territory, we needed all immigration clearances.

I took a great sigh of relief after getting into our alloted accommodation. 

There after it was all free world, nothing to spend from your pocket.

Entering the First City of Alaska Ketchikan

Near the edge of a Glacier!

Five Days In Hawaii

5 DAYS IN HAWAII

A View from The Hotel Balcony

Harvinder was so much tied up with the daily chores on account of little Jania and dear Gobind, she had planned a vacation to a far away place so that she was able to switch off her brain circuitry and become a normal person. We tried small local trips that hardly made any virtual effect to reverse the brain clock. Our 10 hour daily help was ineffective in reducing the type of pressure on Harvinder and me.

As Harvinder is an expert in catching fantastic deals from the tel-marketers and it took almost 10 months to effectively materialize the whole trip to Hawaii. So it was finally a win-win situation, we had to shell out a two grands though. We were finally happy that we could make this trip.

We landed at Honolulu international Airport at local 5.30 PM - 3 hours behind California Pacific Time. the airport was not very big and grand but there was warmth of local people all over. They were holding colorful flower circular garlands for their respective guests.

Near the Front Desk of Hotel

Our host was to meet us at the Hotel Aqua Palm at Waikiki. We took a shuttle and reached the Hotel in 30 minutes. We went straight to the front desk and registered our selves and were allotted a suit on 5th floor. We were fresh from the journey. The weather was neither warm nor cold but a little humid.

We quickly washed and changed and were eager to have first hand communication with the locals here. We asked for a good restaurant for having a dinner. We were relieved that we had similar American food available near by. There were Italian, Mexican, Thai and an Indian restaurants available. We had as a supplement got some home made 'Paronthas' also.

Next day we just wanted to have look at the area and the city and planned for various guided trips. We went to the Expedia desk in the corner of our Hotel at an appointed time met one Mr Sean who was very cordial and welcomed us to the island. with in next two hours we had planned the entire trip as per our tastes and requirements.

In the afternoon, we went to the beach near by and went to Hilton Hawaiin Resorts nearby. As we enterd, we became the integral part of the village. This is 22Acre facility just on the Ocean. They were lot of restaurants, Pastry shops, jewellary shops, famous articles of world renown, Antiques and lots of tourists services. It was really a fun to walk along the small lanes among the mixture of various people got together from all over the world. If in a lift, you will never find two people from one place. All people of race, color, religion were seen walking , talking and having fun together. It is amazing to see all this.

Island of Oahu

More than you imagined,more than you expected, Oahu is a rich and rewarding destination. Beyond the turquoise waters, pristine beaches, and razor-edged mountains, you'll discover a legacy rich in history and influences from all corners of the Pacific.

Oahu, the sun and fun capital of the Hawaiian Islands, is awash with as many activities as there are hours in the day. Enjoy hiking through rainforests, biking along mountain ranges and swimming in the azure waters of the Pacific.

Getting AroundGetting around Oahu is fun and easy, whether it's two wheels, four wheels or otherwise. You can circle Oahu in less than three hours by car. Or you can take TheBus, our public transportation system. It's one of the best ways to experience firsthand, the local communities and people.

Taxis are plentiful and easily available. Or, if you prefer, there are a number of two-wheeled options, like motorcycles, mopeds or bicycles.

To get around, There are three major freeways, connecting you to all points of the islands. And just so you know, going east is called Diamond Head direction; west is Ewa direction; Mauka is toward the mountain; and Makai is toward the ocean.

Things to DoOahu's long-held position as the most popular of all the Hawaiian islands is due in good measure to the incredible variety - and quality - of attractions on this island. There is something exciting fascinating, and fun for every age, every interest, and every budget.

There are historic monuments like Punchbowl National Cemetery and Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor which you can visit on official Navy tours. And there are historic Hawaiian sites like 'Iolani palace, America's only Royal Palace where Kings and Queens of old Hawaii once ruled. Oahu also has Hawaii's largest collection of museums where fascinating exhibits and demonstrations let you learn about everything from how ancient Polynesians navigated the Pacific in outrigger canoes to how Nantucket whalers fashioned harpoons.

The city of Honolulu is a diverse and ongoing attraction itself with distinct and intriguing districts like the thriving downtown/Chinatown business district set alongside busy Honolulu Harbor.

Oahu also boasts dozens of attractions that are simply pure fun vacation experiences. Luaus, Polynesian shows, dancing dolphins, sunset cruises, submarine rides, a world class zoo and aquarium, garden tours, "ghost walks"... the list goes on and on. This is the Hawaiian island that can fill all the days and nights of your vacation with fun and fascinating new experiences.

© preet mohan singh., all rights reserved.